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enFoster lauds qualities of unplayable AnichebeBen Foster believes West Brom striker Victor Anichebe can be unplayable, as evidenced in the FA Cup victory over Birmingham City at the weekend.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/foster-anichebe-unplayable
Anichebe netted both West Brom goals in a 2-1 win at St Andrew's, twice using his strength inholding off Paul Robinson to fire home.
And Foster, who was called upon in the second half after startinggoalkeeper Boaz Myhill was forced off with a hand injury, believes Anichebe can act as a focal point for West Brom's attacking play.
"He was unplayable at times on Saturday," Foster told the club's official website.
"If you get the ball into his feet with one defender marking him, then that is trouble.
"I don't care who you are, you will not be able to stop him bulldozing his way through.
"Vic has shown that if you can get the ball into his feet he will turn defenders, he is fantastic at doing that.
"It is what he does regularly in training and the gaffer has noticed that, it is an incredible strength to have.
"We need to play to our strengths, it is as simple as that."
news_articleMon, 26 Jan 2015 08:57:08 +0000331256 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comStriker Anichebe seeking return to full fitness​Victor Anichebe is keen to prove his fitness and secure a regular place in the West Brom starting XI after the international break.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/anichebe-seeking-return-full-fitness
Striker Anichebe made his first Premier League start since August last Sunday after recovering from hernia surgery, which he underwent over a month ago.
Despite Anichebe's presence, West Brom still slumped to a 2-0 home loss to Newcastle United at The Hawthorns, butthe former Everton man waspleased to get a full 90 minutes under his belt.
"I have been in and out through injury for a little bit, so it was good to play," Anichebe said.
"Over the international break, I need to go away, come back and be as fit as possible.
"I don't feel as sharp and fit as I was at the start of the season but that will come.
"I will go away and I will do parts to try to get myself ready but I'll also be with the team.
"I have the medical team here, they have helped me a lot and I have guys in America I have worked with a lot.
"Between the two we have come up with a fitness regime which will help me to get to where I should be. Hopefully I can come back as fit as possible.
"For me it's very difficult. I had niggling injuries here and there and I have just come back from hernia surgery and I had some complications and that's not an excuse or anything, it's just normal.
"I feel a lot better and hopefully given the break we've got I can go away and get myself right and come back and help the team."
news_articleTue, 11 Nov 2014 09:49:46 +0000285091 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comIrvine thrilled with Anichebes impactAlan Irvine hailed the impact of substitute Victor Anichebe after West Brom rescued a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/irvine-thrilled-anichebe-impact
West Brom were staring down the barrel of defeatafter Brede Hangeland poked home from an early Palace set-piece, before Mile Jedinak scored a second from the spot in first-half stoppage time.
However, Anichebe entered the fray for the second half at The Hawthorns and made a quickimpact with a close-range header from Chris Brunt's corner, before drawing the penalty from Jedinak's reckless challenge from which Saido Berahino levelled in injury time.
Irvine was disappointed with his side's sloppy start, but stated he had a feeling that Anichebe may have a crucial role in the Premier League clash.
"Iwas bitterly disappointed with the first 32 minutes of the game. From that point we followed the game plan -alright, we lost the penalty on a counter-attack, butfor the first 32 minutes we were awful," he said.
"After that we did what we were supposed to do and followed the gameplan and we got our rewards.
"There's no doubt he [Anichebe] made a difference and Ithought before the game that we might need him.
"Having watched Palace and looked at their strengths and the way they're able to play then Ifelt as if Victor would be needed at some point during the game.
"Unfortunately he wasn't quite ready to start the game butit was important he was fresh enough to make an impact if we needed him. He came on earlier than Iplanned but it was a case of needs must."
Palace manager Neil Warnock was fuming that referee Mark Clattenburg allowed West Brom's first goal to stand after goalkeeper Julian Speroni caught an elbow in the head from Craig Dawson.
However, Irvine believes that Palace's opener could also have been chalked off for a foul on Ben Foster.
"Ihave to say that on both [teams']first goalsmy automatic reaction was to look at the referee to see what he was going to give," he added.
"On both occasions he didn't give a free-kick despite both goalkeepers ending up laying on their backs.
"It's always going to be debated when you have in-swinging corners and bodies going in there, we knew Palace would put them in like that, they probably knew we would too.
"The referee decided not togive a free-kick on either occasion."
news_articleSat, 25 Oct 2014 17:44:14 +0000275063 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comIdeye, Anichebe set to return for Baggies​West Brom head coach Alan Irvine is optimistic that strike duo Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe will be back in training next week.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/brown-and-anichebe-set-return
Both playershave been out of action since West Brom's3-2 League Cup win over Hull City last month.
Ideye picked up an ankle injury in the act of scoring his first goal for the club, whileAnichebe has been hampered by a groin problem.
Anichebe's complaint appears to be the more severe of the two, although Irvine is hopeful that both will be able to return at the start of next week ahead of Manchester United's visit to The Hawthorns on October 20.
"We are expecting Victor and Brown to train at the beginning of next week - certainly Brown, Victor we are not as confident about," Irvine told West Brom's official website.
"He's 50-50 in terms of being able to train on Monday, but Brown we are almost certain will train then."
WingerSilvestre Varela should also be able to rejoin training after undergoing a minor operation on his groin.
news_articleThu, 09 Oct 2014 09:55:41 +0000265617 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMel bemoans injury woesPepe Mel has lamented the injury troubles that are hampering West Brom's attempts to secure Premier League survival.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mel-bemoans-injury-woes
Head coach Mel saw his side, who sit 16th in the table, suffer a 2-0 defeat at Hull City on Saturday.
The Spaniards mood was not improved by knocks to defender Gareth McAuley and striker Victor Anichebe.
McAuleys got a very swollen ankle and Anichebe has a muscle issue. said Mel.
McAuleys injured, Billy Jones too and Anichebe is possibly injured too.
Its a problem because the next match (at home to Cardiff City) is a big, big match for us.
Mel is in no doubt as to the importance of Saturdays game against Cardiff,after all of the teams in the Premier Leagues bottom five lost on Saturday.
I always want to win, he said.
It was not possible (against Hull) but Fulham lost, (Crystal) Palace lost, Cardiff lost, Sunderland too, so the next game is a big game for us.
We need to play well with attention and hard work. We have to continue because every week the table changes.
news_articleSun, 23 Mar 2014 10:02:18 +0000142285 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comAnichebe ready to return for Nigeria if selectedVictor Anichebe is ready to return to the Nigeria national team if head coach Stephen Keshi wants him for the FIFA World Cup.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/anichebe-ready-nigeria-return
The West Brom striker put his international career on hold last year to help him "manage his body" and concentrate on performing at club level, and the 25-year-old now feels ready to make himself available.
Anichebe has 11 caps for Nigeria but has not featured since 2011, however reports have suggested thatKeshi is keen to bring him back into the fold ahead of the finals in Brazil.
And Anichebe would willingly step up if asked to.
"We will see what happens," Anichebe told BBC Sport. "Right now I'm playing well, feeling fit, strong and helping my team in the situation we are currently in.
"If I continue to play well from now to the end of the season then we can take it from there.
"I'm grateful that the coach (Keshi) says he is willing to give me a chance, but I think everybody in Nigeria and around the world knows what I can do.
"The Premier League is watched around the world so it's easy to see what qualities I can bring to the team.
"Yes the World Cup only comes once in every four years and it could be my last opportunity, this is something I'm aware of but I haven't spoken to anybody."
Anichebe has scored three goals in 18 league appearances for West Brom since joining from Everton in September 2013.
news_articleTue, 18 Mar 2014 17:28:55 +0000139800 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comAnichebe calls for West Brom spirit to stay upVictor Anichebe says West Brom can avoid relegation from the Premier League this season if they stick together and become hard to beat.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/anichebe-calls-west-brom-spirit
Defeat to Manchester United on Saturday left West Brom 17th in the table and only out of the bottom three by virtue of their superior goal difference over Cardiff City.
West Brom have only won once in their last 18 league matches and have yet to win under head coach Pepe Mel since he replaced Steve Clarke in January.
Anichebe, who arrived at The Hawthorns at the start of the season, remains confident they have the quality to stay in the division but issued a rallying call for everyone to pull together.
"The next couple of games against teams around us are the games that are important for us," he told the club's official website. "They're the games we need to start picking up points from.
"It's going to be important between now and the end of the season to win our individual battles with our opponents.
"We're in a serious position and we need to pull our socks up and get some points.
"It's down to us as players to go out there and play as well as we can.
"As long as we stick together we can get out of this."
Anichebe is the second-highest Premier League goalscorer at West Brom, with three goals to his name - bettered only by Saido Berahino's tally of four.
news_articleTue, 11 Mar 2014 09:41:39 +0000135914 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMel impressed with Anichebe impactWest Brom head coach Pepe Mel has backed Victor Anichebe to lead the club away from the relegation zone.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mel-impressed-anichebe-impact
The striker's last two goals have earned West Brom 1-1 draws at home against Chelsea and Liverpool and Mel believes the 25-year-old will be crucial to the side's survival bid in the Premier League.
Only goal difference is keepingWest Brom out of the bottom three.
"Victor is going to be so important to our survival hopes," the Spaniard said. "I've been impressed by him.
"But I was proud of all my players against Chelsea.
"Now they have to show me we have the right mentality to win."
Albion now have nine days without a game and will travel to Spain for warm-weather training. And midfielder James Morrison thinks it will be a good chance to get to know their new coach and his approach.
"It will be good for trying to get used to the gaffer, how we're going to play and what system suits us," the Scotland international told the Birmingham Mail.
"Hopefully it will give us a bit of identity, we can get used to the manager and he can get used to everybody because it's still very rare that we all get together like this."
news_articleThu, 13 Feb 2014 09:36:34 +0000122448 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comAnichebe compares boss Mel to MartinezVictor Anichebe believes that Pepe Mel can follow the example set by compatriot Roberto Martinez as he seeks to change West Broms fortunes.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/anichebe-compares-mel-martinez
Mel has taken the reins at a club in danger of being dragged into a Premier League relegation battle, gaining a home draw against Martinez's Everton in his first game in charge on Monday.
Anichebe worked under Martinez at Goodison Park and the striker can see parallels between his old boss and Mel.
"The new gaffer wants us to pass and keep the ball on the floor and create good movement," Anichebe toldThe Express Star.
"It's similar to Everton when Roberto Martinez first came in – it was very different for us as players but you can see how much Everton have come on under him.
"The new manager here wants us to do that and he also wants us to press a lot and we showed that against Everton."
Mel is getting to grips with the English language but Anichebe, a £6million close-season signing, does not believe there will be any communication problems.
"Football is quite easy to understand," he added. "There's just a ball! We have all been playing since we were young.
"Everybody knows football has its own language, so whether he speaks English or not, he will make himself understood.
"I think we're in a false position. We've got a really good team and I'm sure we'll start to pick up points and climb the table."
West Brom are 13th in the top flight, four points clear of the bottom three.
news_articleSat, 25 Jan 2014 09:25:43 +0000114703 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comWest Brom trio set to return at SouthamptonWest Brom trio Youssouf Mulumbu, Billy Jones and Victor Anichebe could all return from injury in Saturdays clash with Southampton.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/west-brom-trio-set-return-southampton
Midfielder Mulumbu sat out Saturday's defeat against Crystal Palace due to an eye problem, while right-back Jones was ruled out after suffering concussion.
Striker Anichebe has been sidelined for the last five games due to a groin complaint, but all three are on course to be included in Keith Downing's squad.
Albion are set to be at full strength for the trip to St Mary's Stadium as Downing attempts to maintain his unbeaten record in the Premier League since taking interim charge following Steve Clarke's sacking last month.
Meanwhile, former Werder Bremen boss Thomas Schaaf has emerged as the latest favourite to take over as head coach at The Hawthorns.
The 52-year-old has been out of work since leaving Bremen by mutual consent last May after 14 years in charge of the Bundesliga club.
news_articleWed, 08 Jan 2014 10:15:22 +0000102036 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comWest Brom wait on Anichebe illness updateVictor Anichebe has emerged as a doubt for West Brom's Premier League clash at Cardiff City on Saturday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/west-brom-wait-anichebe-illness-update
The striker was unable to train on Thursday due to illness, leaving head coach Steve Clarke facing an anxious wait to see if the 25-year-old recovers in time for the game in the Welsh capital.
West Brom head to Cardiff desperate to end a five-game winless streak that has left the side two points above the bottom three.
Anichebes possible absence is offset by the news Nicolas Anelka is available again after recovering from a groin injury that has sidelined the former France international forward since the end of last month.
Anelka is still awaiting his first goal since joining West Brom in July on a free transfer.
Goalkeeper Ben Foster has returned to full training following a broken foot, sustained in the goalless draw against Everton at the end of August, but the game in Cardiff will come too soon.
news_articleThu, 12 Dec 2013 18:04:10 +000093359 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comAnichebe seals West Brom switch from EvertonWest Brom have signed Everton striker Victor Anichebe for a fee that could reach 6million.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/anichebe-seals-west-brom-switch-everton
Anichebe adds to another attacking deadline-day signing at the Hawthorns, with Stephane Sessegnon also joining for a "club-record" fee from Sunderland.
West Brom have offset the expected departure of Peter Odemwingie, who was reportedly set to join Cardiff City as the deadline slammed shut on Monday.
The Nigeria international made his Everton debut in February 2006 and went on to make 168 appearances for the club, scoring 33 times.
He has made 11 appearances for his country and scored once, on his debut in an Olympic Games qualifying match against South Africa.
West Brom were also thought to have launched a late bid to bring Romelu Lukaku in on loan after the Belgian starred last season, scoring 17 goals in 38 games for the Midlands club.
However, the Chelsea youngster has instead opted to sign a season's loan at Everton - where he will fill in for Anichebe.
He will now link up with Steve Clarke at The Hawthorns, who reportedly cancelled a last-gasp move for Shane Long to Hull City once Everton's capture of Lukaku was confirmed.
Long had travelled to East Yorkshire for a medical and to agree terms, but Clarke pulled the plug, leaving Hull boss Steve Bruce with just one late arrival - the return of Egypt striker Gedo on a season-long loan deal.
news_articleTue, 03 Sep 2013 00:25:30 +000051993 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com